Celery-banking machine



(NO Model.) 8 Sheet-;84mm 1. E; A. DEWEY. GELBRY BANKING MACHINE.

No. 442,425. Patented Deo. 9, 1,890.

Wmwses:

Tm: Nomus wazna co., were-Uma., wnsmwaros. n. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. A. DEWEY.

GELERY'BANKING MACHINE. No. 442,425. Patented Deo. v9, 1890.

'nasses: Inu/'nto 71" 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

E. A. DEWEY. GELERY BANKING MACHINE.

Patented Dec. 9, 1890.

I ;wania 7*: mw ,w

Wzrwsses:

lJNrrn States ATENT OFFICE.

ELLSWORTH A. DEWEY, OF lTTLE CREEK, MICIHGA.

oELERY-BANKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 442,425, dated December 9, 1890.

Application filetl September 8, 1890. Serial No. 364,287. (No model.)

To a'ZZ 'who/72, it may conccrn.

Be it known that I, ELLswoRTH A. DEwnY, of Battle Creek, in the county of Calhonn and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Celery-Banking Machines; and I do hereby declare the following,` to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable. others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being,` had to the accompanying` drawings, which form part of this specification.

My invention rclates to an improvement m celery-banking machines; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts which will be fully describecl hereinafter.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine for banking,` celery-plants, having' the characteristics and construction heroinafter shown and described, whereby the results hereinafter specified are accomplished.

Figure 1 is a perspective of a machine which embodies my invention, a part of the mechanism being,` omitted, as hereinafter pointed out. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bankingelevatcrs and the mechanism for Operating' them. Fig. 3 is an exterior side elevation of one of the elevator-boards. Fig. 4 is an interior side elcvation of one of the elevators. Fie'. 5 is a rear elevation of one of the castins, to which the front. end of the elevators are pivoted and carrying the mechanism for driving` the traveling elevator aprons or belts. Fig. (3 is a detached view of one of the links of the traveling elevator. Fig. 7 is a rear elevation of the left-hand casting through which the tubes ll' l' pass and by means of which they are adj usted vertically and to which mechanism is secured for holding the tubes up when turuing` the machine.

The main frame of my machine consists of a front U-shaped arch A, to the lower ends of the Vertical portions of which the rearwardlyextending' horizontal beams B are secured at their front end. Secured to the rear ends of each ofthese beams B are the two upwardly and rearwardly extending fiat metallic plates C,which together form a U-shaped frame, between the rear ends of which the supportlng and driving wheels D are journaled. T he rear cnds'of these'platcs O extend upward slightly above the peripheries of the driving-wheels and extend inward, as at E, and have their ends secured to the upper end of the rear U- shaped arch F.

Extending from the inner front corners of the Vertical portion of the front arch A, near their upper and lower ends, are the bearing's G, through which the Vertical bars or rods I'I pass,and to the lower ends of which the caster-wheels I are journaled. Fastened to these bars H, near their upper ends, are the rackbars or cogg'ed portions J, with which the circular cogg'ed plates K eng-age, and by means of which the rods H are moved vertieall y, for the purpose hereinafter speeified.

Secured upon the upper and lower sides of the beams B, near their innerends,are the L- shaped castings L, which are provided with the longitudinal g'rooves M, through which and the standz'trds N of the plows O bolts pass, by means of which the plows are adjustably seen red to the beams. Castings P are pivotally connected to the under side of the rear ends of the beams B, and these castings are provided at their lower ends with the Verticalbearings Q, to which the front ends of the elevator-boards Rare hinged or pivoted by the bearings S, which allow their rear ends to move in and out. horizontally for the purpose hereinafter specited. The upper ends of the cast-ings P are pivoted upon the hearings T, which are firmly fastened to the beams B. J ournaled in the castings P are the Vertical shafts U, to the lower ends of which the two sprocket-wheels V are secured by means of set-screws, and to the upper ends of these shaf ts U the grooved wheels V and the bevel gear-Wheels X are fastened. The bearings T are macie hollow longitudinally, and through these bearings the horizontal shafts Y pass, which have secured to their inner ends the bevel-,c'ears Z, which en gage with the gears X, and to th eir outeren ds the sprocket-wheels A'.

Secured to the outer sides of the rea-r ends of the elevator-boards R are the castings B', in the rear ends of which Vertical shafts are journaled, to which shafts the sprocket-wheels C' are fastened. Passing` around these sprocket-wheels C' and the sprochet-wheels V are the encllcss traveling elevators or belts D', which consist of thelinks shown in Fig. 6.

IOC)

seat-J' is secured.

These links are connected by means of a web E', which have the sharp edges F', and the links proper are also provided with the sharp edges G'. As the belt travels around the elevator-boards the sharp edges of these links scrape against the steel sides of the elevatorboards and prevent the earth from adhering to it.

Pivoted to the inner lower ends of the vertical portions of the front arch A are the two tubes H' and I', the outer ones H' being largest, and to the rear ends of which the driver's The inner tubes I' have their rear ends turned outward, as shown, to which the outer ends of the connecting-bars K' are pivotally fastened, and the opposite ends of these bars are pivotally connected to the bell-crank or V-shaped levers` L', which are pivoted between the outwardly-extending cars M' of the castings B' To the opposite end of the levers L' are pivotally connected the connecting-bars N', the inner ends of which are pivoted between ears O' of a slid-l provided with a foot rest or treadle R', by

means of which the operator moves the outer ends of the elevator-boards in and out, as will be hereinafter described. i

rL`he tongue S' has its inner end connected to the outer ends of the L-shaped plates or barsT', which have their rear ends pivotall y connected to the Vertical standards of the rear arch F, as shown. Extending from the platesT' are the arms U', to which the levers V' are pivotally connected, and to the forward ends of these levers the chains VV' are connected, and the opposite lower ends of these chains are connected to the inner ends of the beams- B.

Extending from the horizontal portion of the rear arch F are the tw o arms Z',,to which the levers X' are pivoted between their ends. The front ends of these levers X' are connected by means of the connecting-rods Y' with the levers V' in rear of their pivotal points' U' upon the plates T', and the rear ends of these levers are connected to the chains 7, which have their lower ends connected tov the elevator-boards at a suitable distance from their rear ends.

Secured to the under side of the horizontal portion of the rear arch F are the circular toothed castings A", and. to these castings the Lfshaped levers B are pivoted. Connected to these levers at their upper ends areV the rods C, which have their opposit-e ends connected to arms of the toothed circular castings K. Short chains D" are connected at their upper ends to the levers B slightly in front of their pivotal point, as' shown.

The purposes and'advantages of this ar- 'rangement of parts result from various con-V ditions, asthe operator may'wish to increase or diminishthe quantity of earth that is bcing elevated, according` to whether small or large plantsv are being banked or from the softness of the ground. To diminish the quantity of earth being elcvated, the plows must be raised, and as they are carried in a measure upon the caster-wheels I the wheels must be lowered. This is effected by pulling;` down upon the L-shaped levers B",-which raises the arms of the toothed castings K, which force the rods H downward, to the lower end of which the caster-wheels are connected, and this raises the beams B and with them the plows. Vhen, however, the front end of the machine is raised, the rear end is lowered, (the axles of the wheels being the fulcrum of the frame,) but by means of the short chains D, also connected to the levers B and to the long chains, the rear end of the machine is raised simultaneously with the front end by means of the levers B.

Secured to the supportingwheels D are the driving sprocket-wheels E, around which and the sprocket-.wheels A' a driving-chain passes, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1` and which through themedium of the gear-wheelsZ X, shaft Y, and sprocketwheels V the elevatorbelts or chains D' are driven. The elevator boards extend at an angle inward, as shown in Fig., 2,. and are adj ustedindependently by the feet of the operator upon the treadles R' by the in-and-ont movement of the cars P', to which the treadles are connected.` This in-and-out movement of the rear ends of the elevator-boards is effected by the V-shaped or bell-crank levers L' and the connections thereto as the treadle and car are moved back and fortjh, as will be readily undeorstood.

The obj ect of the travelingelevators or belt D' is that the belt or chain, moving as it does, carries the soil directly toward the,plants,.because all fri'ction is'removed by reason. of the elevator -Vchain moving, backward just fast enough as thev machine inoves forward to| produce the practical effect of remaini-ng still while the machine is moving.. YVere it not for these chains moving as above described, or if there were no chains, the friction of the soil against the boards as the machine moved forward would cause the f urrow which is started on either side by the plows to take a forward motion in reachingthe plants, and in so doing would crush them. down in the same direction that the machine is moving, and also after the bank had become considerably high the friction' would be so great that it would drag along with the machine and fall over. the top-of theelevator-boards rather than around underneath their rear ends.

At the bottom ofl the rear ends of the elevator-boarcls R are securedfthe outwardly-in` clined steel plates G ufor the purpose of smoothing and packing the newly-elevated bank, and thus prevent the loose earth from falling again afterit had been elevated if it were not pressed into a smooth solid' bank.

Theinand-outmovement of the rear. ends of the elevator-boards before described en- IOO IIO

ables the operator, sitting on the sea-t J', to keep an equal pressure on either side of the row by the pressure of his feet upon the treadles R'. By this means the operator can keep the pressure equal upon both sides of the row, though the row may not be exactly in the center of the machine between the wheels. This also enables him to increase or diminish the width of the opening between the rear ends of the elevator-boards, as they are independent one of the other.

The character of the celeryplant while growing being to droop over near the ground, I provide means for straightenine` them up as the machine passes along and before the dirt is packed around them, and hold them in this crect position while the earth is being elevated to and packed around them. This is accomplished by means of the cords or ropes H, which pass around the grooved pulleys IV at the front ends of the elevator-boards, the spring-aotuated pulleys I at the rear ends of the elevator-boards, and through a groove in the outer end of thepivoted shoe J. This shoe is horizontally pivoted upon a toothed casting K, so as to swing vertcally, and to this pivot is secured a handle L, which is provided with a spring-catch M, that engages the toothed casting K, and thereby supportsthe said shoe at any desired elevation, thus raising the cord II to the proper height as the elevator-boards are raised or lowered. The casting K is vertically pivoted upon the casting B', so as to swing horizontally, and thus move the outer end of the shoe J in and out. The object of this in-and-out movement of the shoe J is to always keep the rope H in a line with the elevator-boards as they are moved in and out at their rearends, and consequently always in a line with the row, which is very desirable. The row of plants is always nearly parallel with the sides of the machine, and it is essential that these ropes should also be parallel with the row from the point of the shoe to the rear ends of the elevator-boards. In order to keep these ropes parallel with the row as the rear ends of the elevator-boards are moved in and out, the eastings K are vertically pivoted, as before described, so as to allow the ends of the shoes to move in and out, and these castings K are provided with laterallyextending arms N, to which are connected the rods O. These rods O have their opposite ends connected to the rods P, which rods have their foward ends pivotally connected to the castings P at the points Q. The opposite ends of these rods P are bifurcated, and these bifureated ends slide upon the rearwardly-extendingends R of the castings B'. Also sliding upon these ends R are the plates S,to which the grooved pulleys I are connected, and placed between these plates S and the bifurcated ends of the rods P are the Springs T.' By means of this construction the ropes H are always held tight and straight as they travel around the pulleys IV and I, and the rods P being pivotally connected to the castings B', as shown. Then the rear ends of the elevator-boards are moved inward, the bifurcated ends of the said rods move forward, and through the medium of the rods O, which are connected to the arms N of the castings K, turn the said castings upon their pivots and th row the outer grooved ends of the shoes toward the center. This movement of the shoe IV would require more rope; but this is provided against by the forward movement of the bifurcated ends of the rods P, which also allow the plates S, to which the pulleys I are connected, to move forward, while at the same time it is held tight by the Springs T. By this construction the pulleys IV and I and the end of the shoes always maintain practioally the same relative position to each other. This operation is reversed when the rear ends of the elevator-boards are moved outward, and which, as will be readily understood, always keeps the ropes II parallel with the row of plants being banked. As the banks become elevated and the rear ends of the elevators are raised, the front ends of the elevators, turning upon the pivotal castings T, move rearward at their lower ends and away from the plows. In order to always keep the plows in the proper relative position to the ends of the elevators so that they will receive the whole of the furrow, the slotted plates L are provided, by means of which the plows are adjusted forward and bac-kward.

In Fig. 7 is shown a rear view of the lefthand casting U, through which the tubes Il' I' pass. These castings are each provided with two Vertical slots, in the outer ones of which the larger tubes II' move and in the inner ones the smaller tubes I' move. \Vhile the machine is in operation the tubes II' are at the bottoins of their slots; but when at the end of a row and it is desired to turn the machine it becomes necessary to raise the elevator-boards and tubes. The operator first raises the tubes I-I'by takinghold of the seat J and as the tubes move upward they engage the sides of the levcrs or catches V, which are pivoted near their lower ends upon the castings U. These levcrs are provided with inwardly-inclined lower ends IV, which extend partially over the adjacent slots, and with the curved shoulders X at their upper ends.

Y indicate slotted spring-actuated horizontal bars, which are provided with the hooks Z upon one end and the Shoulders 2 between their ends, with which projections upon the upper ends of the levers V engage. When the tubes Il' have passed above the shoulders X, the levers are dra-wn inward by the spring-actuated bars Y, which cause them to catch and hold the tubes I-I', as shown in Fig. 7. The operator then pulls down upon the rear ends of the levers V', which directly raise the front end of the machine and also pull down n pon the forward ends of the levcrs IOO ITO

X' which raise the eleVator-boards by means of the chains connected to them and the two outer or smaller tubes which are suspended upon the chains 7. Vhen the smaller tube I' reaches the top of its slot and strikes against the bottom of the spring-actuated bars Y, it th rows the opposite ends of the said bars down and releases the upper ends of thelevers V. 'l'hen the bar Y" Springs back until it. is arrested by the slot in the said bar. The machine is now ready to be turned around. VVhen turned around, the machine is lowered by allowing the rear ends of the levers V' to rise. Then taking hold of seat with both hands and raising it slightly the tubes H' strike the points 3 of the upper ends of the levers or catches V' which throws their upper ends toward the left until they strikethe hooks Z, thus leaving the slot unobstructed and allowing the tubes I-I' to drop. As these tubes pass down they engage the inwardlyinclined lower ends of the catches or levers V, which .throw their upper ends inward untilthey again catch over the notches 2 of the spring-bars Y, when they are again set to repeat the operation just described at the end of the next row.

The animals are attached to the lower ends of the upright bars 4, which are pivoted between their ends upon the rear sides of the Vertical standards of the front arch A, as shown. Pivoted upon the horizontal portion of this arch is a bar 5, which has its ends connected to the upper ends of the Vertical bars 4 by the rods 6, which together form an evener.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. In a celery-banking machine, the combination of a frame, the driving'-wheels, ele- Vator-boards, a traveling belt which passes around the eleVator-boards, and a mechanism connectedwith the d riving-wheel and the belt for revolving' the belt, substantially as described.

2. In a celery-banking machine, the supporting-wheels, elevator-boards, and a reVolV- ing belt which substantially covers the inner surface of the boards, for the purpose described, substantially as shown.

3. In a celery-bankingmachine, the combination of a frame, supporting-wheels,elevator-boards horizontally pivoted attheir upper front ends, and horizontally-adjustable plows at the front ends of the eleVator-boards, substantially as specitied.

4. In a celery-banking machine, the combination of a frame, supporting-wheels, elevator-boards, and a supporter for raising the fallen plants, substantially as specified.

5. In a celery-banking` machine, the combination of a frame, supporting-Wheels, elcvator-boards pivoted at their front ends, and levers connected with their rear ends for moving them in and out, substantially as described.

G. In a celery-banking machine, the combination of a frame, supporting-wheels, elevator-boards, sprocket-wheels journaled at the front and rear ends of the said boards, the belts or chains which pass around the said Wheels and boards, and a mechanism connected with the supporting-wheels for revolving' the said sprocket-wheels, substantially as specified.

7. In a celery-banking` machine, the combination of a frame, the supporting-wheels, the eleVator-boards, pulleys at the front and rear ends of the said boards, a rope which passes around the said pulleys for raising the fallen plants, and a mechanism for revolving` one of said pulleys, substantially as specified.

8. In a celery-banking machine, the combination of a frame, eleVator-boards, pulleys at each end of the said boards, a rope which passes around them, and an inwardly-extending shoe around which the said rope also passes, and a mechanism for revolving one of said pulleys, substantially as described.

9. In a celery-banking' machine, the combination of a frame, the elevator-boards, pulleys at each end of the said boards, an inwardly-extending horizontally-pivoted shoe, a rope which passes around the pulleys, and a mechanism for revolving one of the pulleys, substantially as set forth.

10. In a celery-banking machine, the combination of a frame, supporting-wheels, ele- Vator-boards vertically pivoted at their front ends to move in and out at-their rear ends, pulleys at each end of the said boards, in- Wardly -extending` VertcaIIypivotedV shoes, ropes which pass around the pulleys and shoes, and a mechanism connecting the shoes and elevator-boards, whereby when the boards move the shoes turn 'upon their pivots, for the purpose described.

11. In a celery-banking` machine, the combination of a frame, supporting'-wheels, elevator-boards pivoted at their front ends to swing horizontally at their rear ends, tubes connected at their front ends to the frame, and a mechanism connecting the tubes and the boards for moving' the said boards in and out at their rear ends, substantially as described. v

12. In a celery-banking machine, the combination of a frame, supporting-wheels, ele-` vator-boards connected at their front ends to swing vertically, tubes pivoted at their front ends to swing vertically, and levers connected to the said boards for raising them, substantially as described.

13. In a celery-banking machine, the combination of a frame, supporting-wheels, elevator-boards pivoted at. their front ends to swing vertically, tubes pivoted at their front ends to swing vertically, Va seat connected thereto, a level' for raising the boards, and a catch for supporting the tubes in a raised p0- sition, substantially as specified.

14. In a celery-banking' machine, the combination of supporting-wheels, a frame pivoted thereto, and eleva-tor-boards pivoted horizontally to the frame, a lever, and connections IIO between the level' and the frame and boards, whereby the front end of the frame and the rear ends of the boards are raised simnltaneonsly, snbstantially as described.

15. In a celery-banking machine, the combination of a front and a rear arch, a frame connecting` them, a tongue pivotally connected to the rcar arch, and a Iever pivoted upon the tongue and connected at one end to the frame, whereby the front end of the frame is raiscd by the levers and the weight tra-nsferred to the tongue, snbstantially as shown.

1(5. In a celery-banking machine, the combination of a frame, snpporting-wheels at the rear end of the frame, Vertically-Inoving rods at the front of the frame, Wheels on their lower ends, the cievator-boards, and a mechanism connected with the said rods and the elevator'boards for lowerng the rods and raising the boards, snbstantially as specified.

17. In ay ceIery-banking machine, the combination of a frame, the elevator-boards pivotally connected thereto, the tubes H' I', and the slotted casting's through whichthe tubes pass, snbstantiaily as described.

18. In a celery-banking machine, the com- 'bnation of the front arch, the horizontai 

